Grill



April 17, 1956 A. J. FITZGERALD GRILL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1950 Inventor: Albert J. Fitzgerald,

His Attorney.

April 17, 1956 A. J. FITZGERALD GRILL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1950 Inventor: Al bent J. Fi tzger-ald,

b5 M 97% His Attorney l the surface.

portion 7 of the channel United States Patent GRILL Albert J. Fitzgerald, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 9, 1950, Serial No. 173,515 8 Claims. {Cl. 189-34) My invention relates to prefabricated surfaces, and walls, and particularly to surfaces and walls intended for use where appearance is an important consideration.

An object of my invention is to provide a prefabricated wall, or surface, which may be made up of easily formed,

or easily procurable parts of standard size and shape.

My invention itself, however, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which Fig. 1 represents a table provided with a surface constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a partly exploded view of a prefabricated structure embodying my invention; Fig. 3 shows an end View of a structure similar to that of Fig. 2 but adapted to extend around a square corner; and Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate grill forms of the invention.

structure incorporating my invention.

While I mention and illustrate the application of my invention to a table such as that illustrated, this is solely by way of example since prefabricated surfaces incorporating my invention may be applied to many applications, such as the sidewalls of pullman cars, trucks, vehicles, different articles of household furnishings such as, for example, table lamps, end tables, cabinets of various sorts, and to many other applications.

It may be desirable, in some applications, to utilize a surface in which a dominant color may be changed from season to season, or even from day to day, and, as will presently be seen, the surface constructed in accord with my invention readily lends itself to such application.

Fig. 2 shows a section of a surface constructedin accord with my invention partially exploded to show the manner in which the various parts fit together to form The surface is made up of parts of three different shapes. These parts are illustrated at 4, 5, and 6.

The part 4 may be considered a male channel member with the extremities of the channel bent inward to form fingers 7.

Part 5 is a female channel member with the sidewalls 8 of the channel set inward with respect to theouter edges of the bottom of the channel to form notches or grooves 9 into which may slide the inward extending member 4. Thus, the channel -to insert another since the one may be sprung in notwithstanding that another is in 2,742,116 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 member 4 joins together two adjacent channel members 5 in the manner illustrated at therighthand portion of the figure. To hold the three channel members in fixed relation after they have been brought to their desired relationship the member 6 may be slid into the channel 4, as from the end thereof, so that it takes the position indicated at the righthand portion of the figure. This member, it will be observed, is of substantially V shape with the vertex of the V resting against the bottom of the channel member 4 and the extremities of the V bearing against the sidewalls of the channel members 5 at the angle 11 so as to hold these sidewalls in firm engagement throughoutthe length thereof.

As thus constructed it will-be seen that the surface is made up of parts having only three different shapes, all of which preferably may be of some suitable sheet metal such as brass, or stainless steelrea'dily formed into the desired shapes. Of course, a suitable plastic, glass, rubher, or other materials, may be used in the parts 4, 5 and 6.

As thus assembled, the surface may be flat or it may be curved either concave or convex. If convex and of short radius, the outer extremity of the sidewall of the channel 5 may leave the sidewall of the channel 4 at its base rotating about the extremity of the sidewall of the V shape member 6, at the point 11. This, however, is not objectionable, in fact aids in situations where the surface is used as a decorative surface about a frame or building structure havinga curved form or a form other than a flat surface. a i

In some situations it may be desirable thatthe inner surace of the part- 6 exposed to View be provided with a color di 'erent from that of the parts 5, for example. These inner surfaces of the parts 6 may be enameled red, white, or yellow, whereas the parts 5 may be of polished brass or stainless steel.

Sometimes it may be desirable to change the dominant color of the surface in order to accommodate the surface areas in which it is used. This may beeffected by inserting into the member 6 an additional member Iii having on its inner surface the desired color. The member 10 is shown in place in the righthand part of Fig. 2. Thus, for example, if it were desired to change the dominant color effect produced by the skirt 2 of table 1, the members 10 may be brought into place in front of the member 6 and then simply pressed into position. Alternatively, they may be slid in and out from the end as, for example, by removing the table top. In some situations it may be desirable to provide several sets of members 10 of different color which may be inserted according to the color desired at any particular time. It is not necessary to remove one set in order size and shape are such that place. If desired, however, they may be removed from the front, as by use of a suitable tool, or by sliding from the end.

Fig. 3 illustrates an end view of a section constructed in accord with Fig. 1 but in whichmember 20 is provided to permit the passageof the structure around a square, or other, corner. The bottom of channel member 20 may of course be formed with any desiredangle or may be curved, or otherwise shaped to produce a desired appearanceat the corner.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the structure shown'in Fig. 2 in which members 4 tioned at the ends of members 25, or at intervals'alo'ng the length thereof therebyleaving the intermediate space between adjacent members 25 and between clips 24 open.

'ward disposed The members 25 are shown broken at 30 to indicate length.

Fig. is a further modification in which members 4 of Fig. 2 are used, but the members 5 of Fig. 2 are replaced by clips or channels 27 at the ends, or at intervals along the length of members 4. Resilient members 26 are used as in Fig. 4.

These forms of the invention permit free passage of air through the grill and are adapted for use where such passage is desirable.

It will be observed that, in all of the forms of the invention illustrated, all of the parts employed may be easily formed and usually are readily procurable in desired lengths and sizes. Thus panels of desired size may be readily made up. Such panels offer highly desirable versatility as to the appearance produced and may be highly useful in, and about, stores, flower shops, and other areas where appearance and color of surroundings are important.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention many modifications may be made and I contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as may come within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination, in a decorative surface, of a plurality of interfitting channel members having bottom portions parallel to the plane of said surface and walls at right angles thereto, the inner surface of each wall of a channel member embracing the inner surface of a wall of an adjacent channel member, and a resilient member lying in each alternate channel member of said surface and bearing resiliently against the outer surfaces of adjacent channel members holding said adjacent channel members against the walls of said alternate channel members, the extremities of said alternate channel members extending inward, and the intermediate members having outgrooved portions at the corresponding points fitting about said inward extending extremities so that adjacent broad side surfaces of adjacent channel members lie upon each other, and said resilient member having substantially the form of a letter V with the vertex of the V bearing against the bottom of each of said alternate channels and the extremities of the V bearing against said outward disposed groove portions of said adjacent channels to hold said adjacent channels against the inner surface of each wall of said alternate channel members.

2. The combination, in a decorative surface, of a plurality of interfitting channel members, the inner surface of each wall of a channel member embracing the inner surface of a wall of an adjacent channel member, the extremities of each alternate channel member extending inward and the intermediate channel members having outward disposed groove portions at the corresponding points receiving said extremities and fitting closely the inner surface of the wall of said alternate channel members, and a resilient member extending longitudinally of and within each of said alternate channel members and having substantially the form of a letter V with the vertex of the V bearing against the bottom of each of said alternate channel members and the extremities of the V bearing against said outward disposed groove portions of the adjacent channels to hold said adjacent channels against the inner surface of each wall of said alternate channel members.

3. The combination, in a decorative surface, of a plurality of interfitting channel members, the inner surface of each wall of a channel member embracing the inner surface of a Wall of an adjacent channel member, the extremities of each alternate channel member extending inward and the intermediate channel members having outward disposed groove portions at the corresponding points receiving said extremities and fitting closely the inner surface of the wall of said alternate channel members,

d and a resilient member extending longitudinally of and within each of said alternate channel members and having substantially the form of a letter V with the vertex of the V bearing against the bottom of each of said alternate channel members and the extremities of the V bearing against said outward disposed groove portions of said adjacent channels to hold said adjacent channels against the inner surface of each wall of said alternate channel members, a further member extending longitudinally of and within each of said'alternate channel members and having substantially the form of a letter V with the sides of the V bearing against the sides of the corresponding resilient member and the extremities thereof bearing against said outward disposed groove portions of said adjacent channels.

4. A decorative surface comprising a plurality of male and female channel members arranged in interfitting'pairs with means securing said members in interfittingrelationship, said female members having a generally U shape with the legs thereof being inset forming a notch at the junction of each of the legs of said U with the base thereof, said male members having a generally U shape with bent-in fingers at the outer extremities of each of the legs of said U registering with said notches in contiguous sides of juxtapositioned female channel members, said securing means comprising a resilient member lying coaxially within each of said male members and having a base with a pair of free legs, said base bearing against the base portion of each of said male members and said legs biasing apart said juxtapositioned female members thereby locking the fingers of said male members in the notches of contiguous sides of said juxtapositioned female members.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein 'said male channel members are shorter in length than said female channel members.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said female channel members are shorter in length than said male channel members. 7

7. A decorative surface comprising a plurality of male and female channel members arranged in interfitting pairs, said female members being bentlongitudinally forming a base member and a pair of leg members, the legs of each of said female members being inset with respect to the base thereof forming grooves at the junction of said base and said legs, said male members being longitudinally bent forming a base member and a pair of leg members with bent-in fingers at the outer extremities of each of said leg members registering with said grooves in contiguous sides of juxtapositioned female channel members, and securing means comprising a resilient member bent longitudinally to have a base with a pair of free leg members, said base bearing against the base portion of each of said male members and said legs biasing apart contiguous sides of juxtapositioned female members to interlock the notches thereof with the fingers of said male members.

8. A decorative surface comprising a plurality of male and female channel members arranged in interfitting relationship, each of said female members having a generally U shape with a notch at the junction of each of the legs of said U with the base thereof, said legs being substantially perpendicular to saidbase portions and said notch being substantially parallel to said base portion, said male members having a generally U shape with bent-in fingers at the outer extremities of each of its legs, said legs being substantially perpendicular to the base portion of said U and said bent-in fingers being substantially perpendicular to said' legs, said fingers registering with the female notches of contiguous sides of juxtapositioned female channel members and securing means comprising resilient members each being bent longitudinally to have a base with a pair of free leg members, said base bearing against the base portion of reach of said male members and said legs biasing apart contiguous sides of juxtaposed female mem- 6- Mrs to interlock the notches thereof with the fingers of 1,757,664 Gohmann May 6, 1930 said male members. 1,957,933 Brandi May 8, 1934 2,065,920 Clark Dec. 29, 1936 References Clted 1n the file of thxs patent 2,274,317 Bonnen Feb 24' 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,430,654 Voege Nov. 11, 1947 453,470 Geiger Jun 8 1 2,519,162 u k r Aug. 1 1950 615,178 Hooper Nov. 29, 1898 1,196,133 Moister Aug. 29, 1916 

